Wine choices are now whatever you like

Some tips on choosing the right wine to serve with your Christmas dinner.

It's not difficult, said Wendy Nadler, a wine specialist at BevMo! Scottsdale.

"Red or white's okay with anything. It comes down to what do you like," Nadler said.

She has some favorites, with different foods.

Traditional with turkey?

"Pinto Noir, but you can stretch it -- a Zinfandel, a red Zinfandel, a Syrah."

If you choose red with turkey, it should be a "medium- to lighter-bodied red wine."

Whites such as Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc also accent turkey nicely.

For beef?

"Roast beef goes with Cabernet," Nadler said, "but again we can stretch it and go for big Spanish reds or Ameritage, a blend."

Lobster or king crab legs?

"My first choice is champagne, a rose` champagne, especially with shellfish," Nadler said. "This is an unbelievable gorgeous match. If not, a nice Chardonnay really goes well with that type of seafood."

Nadler adds that her favorite to pair with duck is Syrah.

Nadler said some great wine picks are available for under $10 at BevMo, Trader Joe's and even Valley Wal-Marts.

Wine expert Scott Carpenter said wine costs less this holiday season than last, primary because of competition.

Winemakers, he said, "are now able to offer quality that you could never have gotten 10 years ago. "It would have cost 30, 40, 50, 60, 100, 150 dollars for a bottle of win. The same quality that you can get for between $15 and $35 today."

Despite price cuts, wine sellers are faring well during the recession, Carpenter said.